Tax Issue Update: What You Need to Know Post-Eiler decision

Includes a Live Web Event on 08/14/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

In the latest development on the tax treatment of attorneys’ fees, the U.S. Tax Court has issued a precedential decision in Eiler v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue with two key findings: 1) fees recovered in a settlement are taxable to consumers and 2) certain claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act do not qualify as civil rights claims for the purposes of tax deductions.

During this session, we will cover what this decision means for you and your clients, the status of other active cases related to this issue, and NACA ongoing advocacy for a legislative fix.

What You will Learn
• What the decision in Eiler says and doesn’t say about the taxability of attorneys’ fees obtained in certain cases
• What avenues still exist for you to mitigate your clients’ tax risks
• What are steps NACA is taking to address unfair taxation of attorneys’ fees

Ira Rheingold

Executive Director

National Association of Consumer Advocates

Ira Rheingold is the executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA). At NACA, Ira has testified before both Houses of Congress, offered commentary before federal and state regulatory agencies, and helped draft amicus briefs before the nation’s highest courts. Ira created and managed the Institute for Foreclosure Legal Assistance. Currently, Ira serves as co-chair of the Financial Services Committee of the Trans-Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD). Previously, Ira worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago where he ran its Foreclosure Prevention and Senior Housing Projects. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center.